SRC-JBJ H.B. 2645 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2645
77R7640 GWK-DBy: Capelo (Jackson)
Jurisprudence
5/10/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Often in a criminal case it is necessary to sequester a jury for the jury's
own protection.  Members of juries that are not sequestered may be more
susceptible to threats and intimidation.  H.B. 2645 creates a jury
sequestration fund from fees imposed on a convicted defendant to assist
counties in sequestering juries.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 102A, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Article 102.020, as follows: 

Art. 102.020.  COURT COSTS; JURY SEQUESTRATION FUND.  (a)  Requires a
defendant convicted of a felony offense in a district court to pay a $2.50
jury sequestration fee as a cost of court. 

(b)  Requires a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor offense in a justice
court, county court, county court at law, or district court to pay a $1.25
jury sequestration fee as a cost of court. 

(c)  Provides that a person, in this article, is considered convicted if a
sentence is imposed on the person or the person receives community
supervision, including deferred adjudication. 

(d)  Requires the clerks of the respective courts to collect the costs and
pay them to the custodian of the county treasury, for deposit in a fund to
be known as the jury sequestration fund.  Authorizes a fund designated by
this subsection to be used only to pay costs associated with sequestering a
jury in a criminal case. 

(e)  Requires the jury sequestration fund to be administered by or under
the direction of the commissioners court. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act.
 
SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.